Northwood Auto Show brings visitors from all over the state|

Updated 6:00 am, Sunday, October 4, 2015

NICK KING | nking@mdn.net Rain drops bead on the hood and grille of a Cadillac 2016 ATS Sedan 2.0T AWD during the Northwood University International Auto Show on Saturday on the Northwood campus.

NICK KING | nking@mdn.net Rain drops bead on the hood and grille of a Cadillac 2016 ATS Sedan 2.0T AWD during the Northwood University International Auto Show on Saturday on the Northwood campus.

Photo: Nick King/Midland Daily News

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NICK KING | nking@mdn.net Ford Performance employee and Northwood alum Mike Robins starts up a 2015 Ford Mustang GT, equipped with performance packs, for patrons during the Northwood University International Auto Show on Saturday on the Northwood campus. The vehicle boasts 627 horsepower. less

NICK KING | nking@mdn.net Ford Performance employee and Northwood alum Mike Robins starts up a 2015 Ford Mustang GT, equipped with performance packs, for patrons during the Northwood University International ... more

Photo: Nick King/Midland Daily News

Image 3 of 3

NICK KING | nking@mdn.net Patrons walk the grounds despite the rain during the Northwood University International Auto Show on Saturday on the Northwood campus.

NICK KING | nking@mdn.net Patrons walk the grounds despite the rain during the Northwood University International Auto Show on Saturday on the Northwood campus.

Photo: Nick King/Midland Daily News

Northwood Auto Show brings visitors from all over the state|

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A cool breeze brought fall sights and sounds to the campus of Northwood University on Friday afternoon — as well as the throaty rumbling of a Ferrari engine.

The annual Northwood University International Auto Show is in town this weekend for its 52nd year. The auto show is the largest outdoor, new car show in the country featuring over 500 cars, truck, motorcycles and just about everything car-related in between. Car manufactures opened their tents at 1 p.m. Friday for what became a busy weekend on campus.

Bill Clark of Fenton made the 1.5 hour drive to look at new trucks.

“I am not sure if I am going Ford or Chevy this time,” he said.

His son, Ashton Clark, is a sophomore at Northwood and studying marketing and advertising.

“I am here to look at the Mercedes,” he said.

Family friend Bo Barnchau made the trek from Ann Arbor to visit with Ashton as well as look at the exotic cars on display.

When asked what he was the most interested in at the show, he spoke one word:

“Ferrari,” he said, looking back toward the car maker’s tent.

“But I am not ready to buy just yet,” he said, laughing.

Kent Grandchamp of Shelby Township made the trek to see his son Kody who is a freshman studying entrepreneurship at the school. Grandchamp said it was his first auto show at the university, but so far he said he was having a good time.

As for what vehicle caught his eye, Granchamp said he wasn’t committed to a new model just yet.

“Just looking so far,” he said. “But there is a lot to see.”

The Northwood Auto Show offers potential buyers or just curious auto aficionados the chance to see the latest and greatest in person vehicles, but a walk to the end of the nearly 500 cars on display gave visitors a chance to see brand new, semi-tractor rigs up close.

Malorie Dyda of Romulus was staffing the windy spot on Friday. She said people are surprised to see the big rigs on display at the show.

“A lot of people didn’t know we are down here,” she said. The freshman said she is studying aftermarket management and components and manufacturing at the university.

Keith and Linda McMakin of Midland said they were looking to check out the latest Audi Q7, but said the vehicle was not on display yet.

“We wanted to see one,” Keith McMakin said. “And we are looking for car options for our daughter.”

When asked if a new Audi was on the horizon for their child, mother Linda chuckled.

“Oh no,” she said.

Linda said one of the reasons she and her husband have been coming to the show for years is the setting of the venue.

“When you go to a car show down state, everything is indoors,” she said. “It is nice to come here and get to see all of the cars outside.”

As for how long the couple have been visiting the show, Keith said it had too long to remember the exact number of years.

“Oh, probably since it started,” he said, laughing.

Sitting on a bench taking a break from the walk was Neil Nitschka and his pure white bulldog, Frosty.

Nitschka said he has made the drive to the show from his home in Kawkawlin for many years, in part because of his love of cars but also that the show is dog-friendly.

“I have been coming here for 20 to 25 years on and off, and I have always had a bulldog with me,” he said. He said Frosty is his third bulldog.

In her third year working the auto show, junior Brianne Suggs of Owosso said she is happy to be part of what has become tradition for many students at Northwood.

“We are having a great time today,” she said. “It is a lot of fun to be part of the show.” Suggs said she has worked for a different car company each show, and this year she was part of the Kia team. She explained that students learn about the vehicles they are showing to the public, and do their best to answer the many questions that come their way over the three day event.

“I answer questions to the best of my ability,” she said.

As for what Kia vehicle caught here eye, she said it was the Serento SUV.

“I am not a small car person,” she said. “I like to have room in a car to move around in.”

Today is the last day of the show, which runs from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. A classic car show runs from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Hach/Bennett Parking Lot. At 3:30 p.m. awards for the classic car show will be announced on the Church building steps.